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Our study analyzes the spatial pattern and structural characteristics of cities in late feudal China based on multiple correlation and geographic information system spatial analysis, using 58 local Chinese chronicle maps of Jiangsu in the Qing Dynasty as research material. The elements in the city map were dominated by the types of official buildings, transportation facilities, and religious buildings. The urban spatial pattern can be classified into four types, such as extraverted and introverted, with each type having an aggregated spatial distribution and a gradual introverted orientation in time. The urban spatial structure can also be divided into four types: traditional, axial, random, and composite. Spatial distribution of each type is relatively stable, with little change over time. The geographic environment and the traditional concept of city building are the basic reasons for the formation of the spatial pattern and structure. The flood disaster, commercial and military factors contribute to the diverse structures. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of quantifying the ancient Chinese chronicles’ city maps. The findings have important value for contemporary ancient city restoration and shaping urban characteristics.

A new pore type, nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fracture was first discovered based on argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction by focused ion-scanning electron in combination with analysis of TOC, Ro values, X-ray diffraction etc. in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation shale in the Songliao Basin, NE China. Such pore characteristics and evolution study show that: (1) Organo-clay complex pore-fractures are developed in the shale matrix and in the form of spongy and reticular aggregates. Different from circular or oval organic pores discovered in other shales, a single organo-clay complex pore is square, rectangular, rhombic or slaty, with the pore diameter generally less than 200 nm. (2) With thermal maturity increasing, the elements (C, Si, Al, O, Mg, Fe, etc.) in organo-clay complex change accordingly, showing that organic matter shrinkage due to hydrocarbon generation and clay mineral transformation both affect organo-clay complex pore-fracture formation. (3) At high thermal maturity, the Qingshankou Formation shale is dominated by nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fractures with the percentage reaching more than 70% of total pore space. The spatial connectivity of organo-clay complex pore-fractures is significantly better than that of organic pores. It is suggested that organo-complex pore-fractures are the main pore space of laminar shale at high thermal maturity and are the main oil and gas accumulation space in the core area of continental shale oil. The discovery of nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fractures changes the conventional view that inorganic pores are the main reservoir space and has scientific significance for the study of shale oil formation and accumulation laws.

Abstract The layering process of the historic urban landscape (HUL) has spatial and temporal characteristics. With the help of digital technology, building a database to collect and manage spatial information on HUL is an effective research method. Taking Nanjing since the Ming Dynasty (1368–2024) as an example, our paper proposes a framework for constructing a historical geographic information system (HGIS) for HUL. The results show that (1) ancient Chinese historical archives have good potential for use in the construction of historical landscape databases. The HGIS can visualize the evolution of HUL and realize the storage, expression, querying, and analysis of information in different formats. (2) The Republic of China is a turning point in the evolution of Nanjing’s HUL. In terms of spatial evolution, the main distribution areas of urban form and characteristic places, as well as the NACH (normalized angular choice) and NAIN (normalized angular integration) cores of the road network, all moved from the south to the north of the city. In terms of typological evolution, the urban form changes from a predominantly residential area to one that emphasizes residential, administrative, educational and industrial areas. The main types of characteristic places shifted from house gardens, temples and ancestral halls to scenic buildings and public gardens. (3) Political factors, urban planning, commercial ports, and land prices influence the layering process of the HUL. The constructed database guides the preservation of HUL from the digital heritage perspective and the construction of other historical databases with spatial characteristics.

City image is an important element in the design of urban features. Big data from social media has become a new way to perceive city image characteristics. Taking Nanjing (China) as a case study, we use social media data from the “Little Red Book” and “Sina Weibo” (similar to Twitter in China) and employ deep learning methods, multisource data semantic analysis, sDNA, and geographically weighted regression to analyze three aspects: the spatial distribution of hotspots, perception characteristics, and influencing factors. The hotspots are located in Nanjing’s old city, centered on Confucius Temple, and extend outward in a circular pattern. Regarding perception characteristics, the key characteristics that define the old city are “heritage monuments”, “long history”, and “culture”. The high functional perception area converged around the central urban area. The spatial distributions of closeness and betweenness under traffic perception showed opposite trends; emotional perception was mainly positive. Compared with visual and emotional perception, functional and traffic perception have greater impacts on city image hotspots. Our study constructs a model of city image perception from a new perspective. This approach bridges the gap that traditional city image research focuses only on objective environment descriptions and lacks subject-object relationship analysis, which can provide scientific value for decision makers in urban design management.

To study the impact of faults on the enrichment and mobility of shale oil in the Gulong area, representative rock samples were selected in this paper. Based on geochemical data and chemical kinetics methods, coupled with shale oil enrichment and mobility analysis techniques, the shale oil generation quantity and in situ oil content were evaluated from the perspectives of shale oil generation and micro migration, and the mobility of shale oil was revealed. At the same time, the hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency (HEE) of shale was qualitatively and quantitatively characterized, combined with the development of faults. The research results indicate that the study area mainly develops organic-rich felsic (ORF)/organic-containing felsic (OCF) shale, their proportion in both wells exceeds 65%, and the resource amount is the largest in this type of lithofacies. The development of a fault controls the enrichment of shale oil, and the in situ oil content and oil saturation index (OSI) of the shale in well Y58, which is close to the fault, are significantly worse than those in well S2. Well Y58 has 9.52 mg/g and 424.83 mg/g TOC respectively, while well S2 has 11.34 mg/g and 488.73 mg/g TOC respectively. The fault enhanced the migration of shale oil, increasing the efficiency of oil expulsion. As a result, the components with weak polarity or small molecules, such as saturated hydrocarbons and low carbon number n-alkanes, are prone to migration, reducing the mobility of shale oil.

SBA-15-loaded RuCo alloy nanoparticle catalysts (RuxCoy/S15-SU) for the efficient catalysis of hydrogen storage by various liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) were prepared via strong electrostatic adsorption (SEA)-ultrasonic in-situ reduction (UR) technology. The above prepared catalysts were subjected to a series of characterization, such as XPS, H2-TPD/TPR, N2 adsorption–desorption, ICP, CO-chemisorption, FT-IR, XRD and TEM. Ru3+ and Co2+ were evenly anchored on the surface of SBA-15 by SEA, and ultrafine RuCo alloy nanoparticles were formed by UR without any chemical reducing or stabilizing agents. The addition of Co enhanced the dispersion and antioxidant capacity of the RuCo alloy NPs with an average particle size of 2.07 nm and increased the number of catalytically active sites. The synergistic effect of ultrafine particle size and electron transfer between Co and Ru improved the catalytic performance of monobenzyltoluene (MBT) for hydrogen storage. SEA-UR technology strengthened the coordination effect between RuCo alloy NPs and Si-OH, which enhanced the catalytic stability. H2-TPD and H2-TPR indicated that the addition of Co led to more activated H2 to produce hydrogen overflow. For the hydrogenation of MBT, the produced Ru2Co1/S15-SU showed excellent catalytic performance. The hydrogen storage efficiency of MBT was 99.98 % under 110 °C and 6 MPa H2 for 26 min, and the TOF was 145 min−1, which is significantly superior to that of Ru/S15-SU catalyst and that reported in the literature. The hydrogen storage efficiency was still as high as 99.7 % after ten cycles, which was much better than that of Ru/S15-SU and commercial 5 wt% Ru/Al2O3. Ru2Co1/S15-SU is also suitable for efficiently catalyzing hydrogen storage of N-ethylcarbazole, dibenzyltoluene and acenaphthene.

Abstract In this study, we investigated the effect of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (HRP) on the activity of CYP2D6 via the CAMP/PKA/NF-κB pathway in rats with Bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG)-induced immunological liver injury. BCG (125 mg/kg) was injected to establish the rat model of liver injury. HRP was administered intragastrically for one week as the intervention drug. Proteomics techniques were used to analyze protein expression levels, obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the liver injury process. ELISA or western blotting was used to detect specific protein levels. Dextromethorphan was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography to reflect the metabolic activity of CYP2D6. BCG downregulated the expression of CYP2D6, cAMP, PKA, IκB, and P-CREB and upregulated that of NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, and CREB in the liver; HRP administration reversed these effects. Therefore, HRP may restore the metabolic function of the liver by reversing the downregulation of CYP2D6 through inhibition of NF-κB signal transduction and regulation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB/CYP2D6 pathway. These findings highlight the role of HRP as an alternative clinical drug for treating hepatitis B and other immune-related liver diseases.

In order to improve the output value of microsilica produced during the ferrosilicon production process as well as to reduce pollution, amorphous silica was prepared from microsilica by calcination, alkali leaching and acid precipitation. The relevant parameters were optimized and the relevant mechanism was proposed. The results of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, infrared spectra and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that the prepared amorphous silica is of high grade (96.06%) and high whiteness (90.2%). It was then used to prepare amorphous silica/TiO2 composite pigment material, which has similar pigment properties with TiO2. Therefore, this study provides a feasible way of producing high purity amorphous silica from the byproduct during the ferrosilicon production process, which not only reduces pollution, but also provides high-value substitute for white pigment.

The green space system in metropolitan areas is crucial for maintaining environmental health and stability by regulating and supporting ecosystem service values (ESVs). The Suzhou–Wuxi–Changzhou metropolitan area is located in the core of the Yangtze River Delta, and its green space exemplifies this importance, despite facing challenges from rapid urbanization in past decades. Studying the categories of ESVs and their driving factors can facilitate the comprehension of ESVs’ dynamics, thereby promoting regional sustainable development. In this article, we used the inVEST module to calculate six ESV indicators (soil retention, annual water yield, habitat quality, carbon storage, nitrogen, and phosphorus absorption) of the Suzhou–Wuxi–Changzhou metropolitan area’s green space system from 2015 to 2020 and combined it with the entropy weight method (EWM) to allocate weights for these indicators and evaluate the total value of the ESVs. To address the weakness of the inVEST model in calculating the total value of multiple ESVs, the Xgboost algorithm was combined with PCA methods to screen its main driving factors from numerous measures. Finally, the GWR method was used to reveal the spatial and temporal change in the main driving factors’ impacts on ESVs in the study area over five years. The result shows (1) the spatial distribution of the total value of regulating and supporting ESVs in the Suzhou–Wuxi–Changzhou metropolitan area has become more uneven in 2020 compared with 2015; (2) the most important driving factors include landscape diversity, topographic gradient, economic activity intensity, humidity, and surface temperature; and (3) based on the analysis of GWR results, the study area has an overall increase in regional soil erosion due to the expansion of impervious areas. And some mountainous areas have habitat fragmentation because of incorrect economic activity. This study provides a new perspective for evaluating the sum of multiple types of ESVs and exploring their driving factors, as well as revealing the ecosystem problems of the Suzhou–Wuxi–Changzhou metropolitan area in recent years. It also provides a reference for policymakers to maintain local ecological stability and security.

Based on the oil and gas exploration practice in the Songliao Basin, combined with the latest exploration and development data such as seismic, well logging and geochemistry, the basic geological conditions, oil and gas types and distribution characteristics, reservoir-forming dynamics, source-reservoir relationship and hydrocarbon accumulation model of the whole petroleum system in shallow and medium strata in the northern part of Songliao Basin are systematically studied. The shallow–medium strata in northern Songliao Basin have the conditions for the formation of whole petroleum system, with sufficient oil and gas sources, diverse reservoir types and well-developed transport system, forming a whole petroleum system centered on the source rocks of the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation. Different types of oil and gas resources in the whole petroleum system are correlated with each other in terms of depositional system, lithologic association and physical property changes, and they, to a certain extent, have created the spatial framework with orderly symbiosis of shallow–medium conventional oil reservoirs, tight oil reservoirs and shale oil reservoirs in northern Songliao Basin. Vertically, the resources are endowed as conventional oil above source, shale oil/tight oil within source, and tight oil below source. Horizontally, conventional oil, tight oil, interlayer-type shale oil, and pure shale-type shale oil are developed in an orderly way, from the margin of the basin to the center of the depression. Three hydrocarbon accumulation models are recognized for the whole petroleum system in northern Songliao Basin, namely, buoyancy-driven charging of conventional oil above source, retention of shale oil within source, and pressure differential-driven charging of tight oil below source.

Flow battery has recently drawn great attention due to its unique characteristics, such as safety, long life cycle, independent energy capacity and power output. It is especially suitable for large-scale storage system and has a good application prospect. In this paper, the overall structure of the megawatt-level flow battery energy storage system is introduced, and the topology structure of the bidirectional DC converter and the energy storage converter is analyzed. Secondly, the influence of single battery on energy storage system is analyzed, and a simulation model of flow battery energy storage system suitable for large power grid simulation is summarized. The model of the whole system of flow battery is summarized from the grid-connected side and the energy storage system itself. The model of flow battery energy storage system should not only accurately reflect the operation characteristics of flow battery itself, but also meet the simulation requirements of large power grid in terms of simulation accuracy and speed. Finally, the control technology of the flow battery energy storage system is discussed and analyzed. The multi-DC/DC control strategy on the DC side and the parallel operation control strategy of the energy storage converter on the AC side are compared and analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of each control method are analyzed accurately, which can provide reference for the modeling and control strategy of the megawatt flow battery energy storage system.

Research and development of high-performance catalysts is a key technology to realize hydrogen energy storage and transportation based on liquid organic hydrogen carriers. Co/beta was prepared using beta zeolite as a carrier via an electrostatic adsorption (ESA)-chemical reduction method, and it was used as the template and reducing agent to prepare bimetallic catalysts via an ultrasonic assisted galvanic replacement process (UGR). The fabricated PdCo/beta were characterized by TEM, XPS, FT-IR, XRD, H2-TPR, and H2-TPD. It was shown that the ultrafine PdCo nanoparticles (NPs) are evenly distributed on the surface of the beta zeolite. There is electron transfer between metal NPs and strong-metal-support-interaction (SMSI), which results in highly efficient catalytic dodecahydro-N-ethylcarbazole (12H-NEC) dehydrogenation performance of PdCo bimetallic catalysts. The dehydrogenation efficiency reached 100 % in 4 h at 180 °C and 95.3 % in 6 h at 160 °C. The TOF of 146.22 min−1 is 7 times that of Pd/beta. The apparent activation energy of the reaction is 66.6 kJ/mol, which is much lower than that of Pd/beta. Under the action of ultrasonic waves, the galvanic replacement reaction is accelerated, and the intermetal and metal-carrier interactions are enhanced, which improves the catalytic reaction performance.

AbstractAmid China’s high-speed urbanization, the lack of urban landscape and homogenization of urban image are becoming increasingly serious, prompting discussion on how to preserve the natural urban landscape. This study extends the existing landscape assessment model to evaluate the urban hillscape of the Lishui urban area of Nanjing over the past 50 years. First, a landscape quality analysis is conducted based on raster images, and a landscape quality map of the study area is drawn. Then, a visibility analysis of the site is conducted, key observation points (KOPs) are screened using a digital surface model, and the visual magnitude of each KOP is quantitatively calculated. Finally, the visual impact scores of the mountains in the site are synthesized. The results show that the model can accurately quantify the visual impact of historical mountain views. The following conclusions are drawn (1) The visual quality of the landscape in the area has improved as the urban area has spreads out. (2) The viewshed and magnitude of the area are trending downward over time. (3) The Chengnan area’s visual impact score increased by 25.7%, but that of the Tuanshan and Chengzhong areas decreased by 48% and 26.9%, respectively. This study presents a spatial decision support system that can obtain better landscape assessment results with more accessible open-source data, and can be used for historical landscape evaluation. By comparing the characteristics and trends of urban hillscapes in different historical periods, this study’s landscape assessment model can help managers better understand the impact of development on urban intentions and make better decisions.

The extent of immune-mediated hepatic damage (such as in viral hepatitis) is characterised by the downregulation of cytochrome P450s (CYPs), a class of drug-metabolising enzymes. However, whether this downregulation aids liver cells in maintaining their homeostasis or whether the damage is aggravated remains largely unexplored. Herein, we evaluated the effects of phosphorylation mediated by the protein kinase C (PKC)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and nitration mediated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on the downregulation of CYP2E1 during immune-mediated liver injury. Additionally, we investigated the regulatory mechanism mediated by the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). The rat model of immune-mediated liver injury was replicated by administering a single i.v. injection of Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG, 125 mg/kg) vaccine and three i.p. injections of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (25, 50, 100 mg/kg/d, days 11, 12, and 13); blood was then collected on day 14. Subsequently, the livers were extracted to identify the different pharmacokinetic and biochemical indicators involved in the process. Our study reports new findings on the dependence between PKC-mediated CREB phosphorylation in the anti-inflammatory pathway and nitration emergency induced by iNOS in pro-inflammatory pathways in the NF-κB pathway. The interaction of these two pathways leads to the downregulation and recovery of CYP2E1, thus alleviating inflammation and nitration stress. Our results confirm that BCG-mediated downregulation of CYP2E1 is linked to iNOS-induced nitration and PKC/NF-κB-mediated CREB phosphorylation, and that NF-κB is an important molecular target in this process. These findings suggest that the downregulation of CYP2E1 may be an autonomous process characteristic of liver cells, helping them adapt to environmental changes, alleviate further hypoxia in inflamed tissues, and minimise exposure to toxic and harmful metabolites.

Abstract Background Diabetes causes impaired microarterial blood flow, demyelination and neuronal damage, which may lead to cochlear damage and vestibular malfunction. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) is a simple, reproducible test. Cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP and oVEMP) can be explored in the saccadic-spinal and utriculo-ocular pathways in regular clinical practice. Objective To evaluate possible vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) abnormalities in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Materials and methods 89 patients with Type 2 Diabetes in the present study consisted of three groups: 29 patients with no peripheral neuropathy (NDPN group), 26 patients with asymptomatic neuropathy (SDPN group), 34 patients with symptomatic neuropathy (DPN group). Meanwhile, 42 healthy subjects were recruited as controls. The clinical characteristics (including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and illness duration), as well as lipids (including triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)), uric acid, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were compared among the four groups. Four groups were assessed using two vestibular tests including oVEMP and cVEMP. Latency and amplitude parameters were analyzed from VEMP plots. Results The latency of n10, p15 (oVEMP), p13, n23 (cVEMP) were significantly prolonged in the SDPN and DPN groups compared with the control and NDPN groups (p 0.05). oVEMP latency p15 and cVEMP latency (p13, n23) were positively correlated with HbA1c, FBG, and illness duration, and oVEMP latency n10 was positively correlated with HbA1c and FBG. A nomogram, including FBG, HbA1C, HDL, TG, TC, LDL and group, was constructed to predict VEMP parameters and p13 was found to be independently associated with diabetic subgroups. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed good accuracy in predicting p13 in this nomogram. A user-friendly website has been created to facilitate the application of this prediction model ( https://fyey.shinyapps.io/VEMP_Model/ ). Conclusion Patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy may have vestibular dysfunction. VEMP may be useful in assessing vestibular impairment in diabetic patients.

Abstract Background Atherosclerosis is driven by synergistic interactions between pathological biomechanical and lipid metabolic factors. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been implicated in atherogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism of lncRNA AI662270 on macrophage cholesterol transport in atherosclerosis. Methods Apolipoprotein E deficiency (ApoE −/−) mice were fed a high fat diet for 16 weeks to construct atherosclerotic model, and the mice were injected with recombinant lentivirus carrying AI662270 gene to overexpress AI662270. Macrophages were cleared by liposomal clondronate in vivo. Fundamental experiments and functional assays, hematoxylin and eosin staining, oil red O staining and others, were performed to evaluate the function of AI662270 on atherogenesis. Peritoneal macrophages were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate in vitro model. Mechanism assays, RNA-interacting protein immunoprecipitation, RNA–protein pulldown and others, were performed to study the regulatory mechanism of AI662270 in macrophages. Results The novel AI662270 was mainly enriched in macrophages, but not in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts of mouse atherosclerotic lesions and was upregulated by ox-LDL. Overexpression of AI662270 resulted in lipid accumulation, larger atherosclerotic plaques and cardiac dysfunction in vivo. After macrophages were removed, the pro-atherogenic effect of AI662270 disappeared. Downregulation of AI662270 in macrophages protected against foam cell formation by potentiating cholesterol efflux and reducing intracellular total cholesterol. The opposite effect was observed in macrophage-specific AI662270-overexpressed cells in vitro. AI662270 bound to adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (Abca1) responsible for regulating cholesterol efflux in macrophages. Forced expression of AI662270 in macrophages decreased Abca1 expression. The reverse occurred when expression of AI662270 was repressed. Conclusion These findings reveal an essential role for AI662270 in atherosclerosis progression by regulating cholesterol efflux from macrophages.

The conservation and renewal of old cities has become one of the focuses of urban planning worldwide. It is crucial for the sustainable development of old cities to expound the growth process of the shape and texture and internal structure of old cities under different political systems from the perspective of spatial configuration. Based on historical maps and Landsat data, using the space syntax theory and GIS platform, this paper studies the urban growth process of the old city of Nanjing for about 170 years since the mid-Qing Dynasty. A finding in this study is that the old city of Nanjing is more capable of north–south growth than east–west growth. During the feudal era from 1850 to 1912, the urban center, population and built-up area of the old city of Nanjing were concentrated in the south of the city. After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. The built-up area and NAIN core of the old city began to move northward. During the socialist era after 1949, urban growth sped up dramatically. The old city's NAIN core move northward to Xinjiekou-Gulou. This study proves the possibility of using historical maps and Landsat data to study urban growth and builds a framework for the study of the growth of traditional urban spatial forms in history, providing a theoretical reference for the conservation and revitalization of the old city of Nanjing and a method for the study of the spatial forms of other old cities.

Abstract As a new energy‐supply service solution to address massive, distributed energy access to the power system, a virtual power plant has higher transmission reliability and real‐time communication requirements. To achieve collaborative optimisation, distributed load and energy resources must be aggregated using new information and communication technology. This study analyses underlying communication technologies for virtual power plant interaction from the perspective of standardisation, efficiency, reliability, and security, summarises the application of blockchain, cloud‐edge collaboration, machine learning, and other new information and communication technologies in virtual power plant energy trading, interaction, and scheduling, and proposes ideas for addressing shortcomings in interaction. To improve virtual power plant interaction, performance parameter mapping between communication and business technology, and multilevel virtual power plant interaction technology are proposed.

Suburban village tourism is supposed to promote happiness. However, as tourists swarm in, suburban village community spaces tend to become spaces of conflict between diverse groups. To balance development and protection, we need to understand such conflict. Spatial behavior conflict is an important index of the conflict between tourists and residents. This paper is a case study of the Shecun community. It obtains data via GPS tracking and cognitive mapping. By employing the spatial behavior conflict model and space syntax, it analyzes the spatial characteristics of the spatial behavior conflict. And lastly, it explores the paths to sustainable development in suburban villages. According to this empirical research, variations do exist in the spatial behavior conflict in Shecun community, whose spaces can be classified into five types based on their conflict intensity; and there is a positive correlation between the community space’s global accessibility and intensity of spatial behavior conflict.

Background: Graves’ disease is a common autoimmune disease. Cytokines and their signalling pathways play a major part in the pathogenesis of Gr aves’ disease; however, the underlying mechanism needs to be clarified. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore whether circular RNAs par ticipate in the immunological pathology of Graves’ disease via cytokine-related signalling pathways. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed circular RNAs and their targets and associated pathways. A tota l of three patients with Graves’ disease and three sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled for validation with microarray analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). An additional 24 patients with Graves’ disease and 24 gender- and age-matched controls were included for validation by real-time fluorescent qPCR. Flow cyto metry and CCK8 assays were used to detect the apoptotic and proliferative levels of J urkat cells (T lymphocytes) with the silenced expression of circRNA. ELISA was performed to detect the growth and apoptosis-related proteins. The competition mechanism of en dogenous RNA was explored by real-time fluorescence qPCR. Results: A total of 366 significantly differentially expressed circular RN As were identified in the Graves’ disease group compared to healthy cont rols. The level of hsa_circ_0090364 was elevated in Graves’ disease patients and p ositively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies. Further analyses suggested that hsa_ circ_0090364 may regulate the JAK-STAT pathway via the hsa-miR- 378a-3p/IL-6ST/IL21R axis to promote cell growth. Conclusions: These results provide novel clues into the pathophysiological m echanisms of Graves’ disease and potential targets for drug treatment.

Purpose: Emerging evidences have demonstrated that annexin A13 (ANXA13) is closely related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. However, the functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of ANXA13 in Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not been defined. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the potential role of ANXA13 in regulating the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of ccRCC cells. Patients and methods: The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting was performed for detecting the ANXA13 expression in ccRCC tissues at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The GEPIA2 databases were used to derive data for analyzing the ANXA13 expression in pan-cancer and ccRCC clinical features. Cell Counting and colony formation assays, as well as flow cytometry, were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, or cell cycle. The wound healing assay was used to evaluate the migration ability of cells, and the Trans-well assay was conducted to determine the cell invasiveness. Results: ANXA13 was upregulated in ccRCC cells and human ccRCC tissues. Furthermore, siANXA13 inhibited ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induced cell apoptosis. Conclusion: ANXA13 was upregulated in ccRCC. ANXA13 promotes tumorigenic traits of ccRCC cell lines in vitro. ANXA13 is a potential novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in ccRCC.

Abstract It is a critical part of increasing renewable energy accommodation by using virtual power plant (VPP) to attain carbon neutrality. However, VPP applications primarily consider VPP's participation in power market transactions as a whole and rarely consider the transaction interaction between internal resources. VPP's internal resources complement each other organically, and blockchain technology for distributed transactions has incorporated points. In this article, the authors undertake a study and examine the P2P scenario of VPP internal transactions in light of the issues experienced by DERs transactions. Next, the authors analyse the consensus mechanism, smart contract, inter‐blockchain technology, and game theory, and how to apply them in the P2P scenarios of VPP internal transactions. Further, the authors design the function of the DER transaction system, which lays the foundation for the realisation of the system in the future. Finally, the authors conclude that the potential of blockchain technology in P2P transactions between internal entities of the VPP is significant and warrants further investigation.

An analytical formulation for magnetic field penetration through a circular aperture in a thin perfect electric conductor (PEC) screen with finite-thickness is developed. Especially, we propose an analytical formula for the magnetic coupling between two circular loops separated by the screen and placed coaxially with the aperture. The formula is verified by finite element simulations and experimental data. The thickness effect is explained by the cut off attenuation of TE01 mode in the aperture. The influences of loop-screen-loop distance and loop radius on the coupling intensity are also investigated.

N-ethylcarbazole/dodecahydro-N-ethylcarbazole (NEC/12H-NEC) is one of the most attractive LOHCs, and it is of great significance to develop catalysts with high activity and reduce the hydrogen storage temperature. Layered double hydroxides-carbon nanotubes composites (LDH-CNT) were synthesized by a simple in-situ assembly method. Due to the introduction of CNT, a strong interaction occurred between LDH and CNT, which effectively improved the electron transfer ability of LDH-CNT. Ru/LDH-CNT catalysts were prepared via ultrasound-assisted reduction method without adding reducing agents and stabilizers. Under the cavitation effect of ultrasound, the hydroxyl groups on the surface of LDH were excited to generate hydrogen radicals (•H) with high reducibility, which successfully reduced Ru3+ to Ru NPs. Ru/LDH-3.9CNT-(300-1) catalyst was of 1.63 nm average Ru particle size with CNT amount of 3.9 wt% and the ultrasonic power of 300 W at 1 h, and its electron transfer resistance was less than that of Ru/LDH-(300-1). The synergy of ultrafine Ru NPs and fast electron transfer made it exhibit exceptional catalytic performance in NEC hydrogenation. Even if the reaction temperature was lowered to 80 °C, its hydrogenation performance was better than that of commercial Ru/Al2O3 catalyst at 120 °C. The ultrasound-assisted method is efficient, green and environmentally friendly, and the operation process is simple and economical. It is expected to be used in practical industrial production, which provides a reference for the preparation of high-activity and low-temperature hydrogen storage catalysts.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a multifactorial disease that refers to the occurrence of secondary amenorrhea, estrogen decrease, and gonadotropin increase in women under the age of 40. The prevalence of POF is increasing year by year, and the existing instances can be categorized as primary or secondary cases. This disease has adverse effects on both the physiology and psychology of women. Hormone replacement therapy is the recommended treatment for POF, and a multidisciplinary strategy is required to enhance the quality of life of patients. According to recent studies, the primary mechanism of POF is the depletion of ovarian reserve function as a result of increased primordial follicular activation or primordial follicular insufficiency. Therefore, understanding the processes of primordial follicle activation and associated pathways and exploring effective interventions are important for the treatment of POF.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the optic disc and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of lower limb nerves in the diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) separately and in combination.MethodsA total of 140 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled, including 51 patients with DPN (DPN group) and 89 patients without DPN (NDPN group). Clinical data and biochemical parameters were collected. Electromyography/evoked potential instrument was performed for nerve conduction study. Optical coherence tomography was performed to measure the RNFL thickness of the optic disc. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed to measure CSA of lower limb nerves.ResultsThe RNFL thickness was lower and the CSA of the tibial nerve (TN) in the DPN group was larger than that in the NDPN group. The album/urine creatinine ratio, diabetic retinopathy, and CSA of TN at 3 cm were positively correlated with DPN. The RNFL thickness in the superior quadrant of the optic disc was negatively correlated with DPN. For RNFL thickness to diagnose DPN, the area under the curve (AUC) of the superior quadrant was the largest, which was 0.723 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.645–0.805), and the best cutoff value was 127.5 μm (70.5% sensitivity, 72.1% specificity). For CSA of TN to diagnose DPN, the AUC of the distance of 5 cm was the largest, which was 0.660 (95% CI: 0.575–0.739), and the best cutoff value was 13.50 mm2 (82.0% sensitivity, 41.6% specificity). For the combined index, the AUC was greater than that of the above two indicators, which was 0.755 (95% CI: 0.664–0.846), and the best cutoff value was 0.376 (64.3% sensitivity, 83.0% specificity).ConclusionsPatients with DPN have a reduction of the RNFL thickness and an increase in the CSA of TN, and these two changes are related to DPN. The RNFL thickness of the optic disc and the CSA of TN can be used as diagnostic indicators of DPN, and the combination of the two indicators has a higher diagnostic value.

Immunotherapy has become a revolutionary subject in cancer therapy during the past few years. Immune checkpoint-targeting antibodies (Abs) could boost anticancer immune responses. However, certain protein-based immunotherapies revealed side effects and unfavorable biodistribution, so effective non-protein options with lower side effects are highly sought after. RNA’s ability to form various three-dimensional configurations allows for the creation of a variety of ligands to bind different cell receptors. The rubber-like properties of RNA nanoparticles (NPs) allow for swift lodging to cancer vasculature with little accumulation in vital organs, resulting in a favorable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profile and safe pharmacological parameters. Multi-specific drugs are expected to be the fourth wave of biopharmaceutical innovation. Herein, we report the development of multi-specific Ab-like RNA NPs carrying multiple ligands for immunotherapy. The stoichiometries and stereo conformations of the checkpoint-activating RNA NPs were optimized for T cell activation. When compared to mono- and bi-specific RNA NPs, the tri-specific Ab-like RNA NPs bound to the trimeric T cell receptor with the highest efficiency, showed the optimal T cell activation, and promoted the strongest anti-tumor function of immune cells. Animal trials demonstrated that the tri-specific RNA NPs inhibited cancer growth. This Ab-like RNA NP platform represents an alternative to protein Abs for tumor immunotherapy.

N-ethylcarbazole/dodecahydro-N-ethylcarbazole (NEC/H12-NEC) is a promising LOHC, and the development of a catalyst with high activity and stability is the key to realizing its reversible hydrogen storage process. In this paper, ultrafine Pd nanocrystalline catalysts (Pd/LDHs-us) supported on Cl--intercalated MgAl LDHs were prepared by a simple ultrasonic-assisted reduction method and applied in the dehydrogenation of 12H-NEC. In the process of ultrasonic-assisted reduction, the instantaneous high temperature generated by cavitation decomposed part of the CO32– in LDHs interlayer, and promoted PdCl42- to enter the interlayer and become new intercalated ions. At the same time, hydroxyl groups on the surface of LDHs were excited to generate hydrogen radicals (•H) with strong reducibility, which reduced PdCl42- to Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) in situ. The remaining Cl- ions continued to exist in the interlayer as intercalated ions. The agglomeration of PdNPs was effectively inhibited, and the average particle size was 1.8 nm, which was uniformly dispersed on LDHs, which improved the catalytic activity of Pd/LDHs-us. The coordination between PdNPs and oxygen in the hydroxyl groups on the surface of LDHs improved its catalytic stability. Using Pd/LDHs-us catalyst, the conversion rate of H12-NEC was 100.0 %, and the dehydrogenation efficiency was 99.3 % at 180℃. When the reaction temperature drops to 170℃, the dehydrogenation efficiency can still reach 94.6 %, showing excellent catalytic performance. The study of dehydrogenation kinetics shows that the apparent activation energy of Pd/LDHs-us catalyst is only 90.97 kJ/mol. This provides a new method and idea for the preparation of efficient dehydrogenation catalysts in the future.

Physically-based parameter estimations are essential to improve the simulation performance of a hydrologic model and to produce physically reasonable parameters with spatial consistency. This study proposed a parameter derivation strategy to improve the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting (SAC-SMA) model simulation performance based on the publicly accessible Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). The HWSD soil properties were used to estimate the soil moisture characteristics, and the HWSD soil texture classifications and International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) land cover types were used to identify the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) runoff curve number (CN). After the soil moisture characteristics and CNs were identified, the major parameters of the SAC-SMA model were derived. The simulation results were evaluated using the Nash efficiency coefficient (NSEC), and Free Search (FS) algorithm was used to further adjust and calibrate the parameters. Compared with the simulation accuracy (NSEC = 0.66~0.88) and parameter transferability (NSEC = 0.22~0.83) obtained for the SAC-SMA model using directly calibrated parameters, the HWSD data-derived parameters allowed the SAC-SMA model to achieve a similar simulation accuracy (NSEC = 0.65~0.86) and a better transferability (NSEC = 0.61~0.85).

Natural fractures are of paramount importance in storing carbon in shale oil reservoirs, where ultra-low porosity and permeability necessitate their essentiality for enhanced oil recovery. Therefore, comprehensively clarifying the characteristics of natural fractures in shale oil reservoirs is imperative. This paper focuses on investigating the microscopic features of natural fractures in organic-rich continental shale oil reservoirs that are commonly found in the Lower Jurassic strata of the Sichuan Basin, employing them as a representative example. Multiple methods were utilized, including mechanical testing, Kaiser testing, multi-scale CT scanning (at 2 mm, 25 mm, and 100 mm scales), and a numerical simulation of fluid seepage in fracture models. The results revealed that the in situ stress of the target seam displays the characteristic of σH > σv > σh, with σv and σh being particularly similar. The relatively high lateral stress coefficient (ranging from 1.020 to 1.037) indicates that the horizontal stresses are higher than the average level. Although the 2 mm CT scan provides a more detailed view of fractures and connected pores, it primarily exhibited more pore information due to the high resolution, which may not fully unveil additional information about the fractures. Thus, the 25 mm shale core is a better option for studying natural fractures. The tortuosity of the different fractures indicated that the morphology of larger fractures is more likely to remain stable, while small-scale fractures tend to exhibit diverse shapes. The simulations demonstrated that the stress sensitivity of fracture permeability is approximately comparable across different fracture scales. Therefore, our research can enhance the understanding of the properties of natural fractures, facilitate predicting favorable areas for shale oil exploration, and aid in evaluating the carbon storage potential of shale oil reservoirs.

In this study, porthole die extrusion was performed on a graphene-nanoplatelet-reinforced aluminum composite (0.5 wt.% GNP/Al) prepared by powder metallurgy. The microstructure, grain size, microtexture, and mechanical properties of the composite extruded by the porthole die were studied. Along the extrusion direction, the tensile strength of the extruded composite was 139.7 MPa, and the elongation was 27.1%. Along the transverse direction, which included the weld zone, the tensile strength was 126.4 MPa, and the elongation was 24.1%. These values were 6.65% and 54.63% higher than those obtained for pure aluminum, respectively. Fractography along the extrusion direction revealed obvious ductile fracture characteristics; however, these were not so obvious along the transverse direction, mainly due to the anisotropy caused by the grain orientation of the extruded composite, thereby indicating that the composite exhibited excellent weld performance, which was further verified by Optical Microscope, Electron Backscattered Diffraction, and Transmission Electron Microscopeimages. Overall, these results indicate that GNP can contribute to the strength and toughness of composites in the weld zone in porthole die extrusions.

Little is known about the genetic alterations characteristic of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). Our aim was to identify targetable genomic alterations in this type of cancer. Forty-two OCCC formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples were analyzed by whole-exome sequencing (WES), and 74 FFPE tissue samples underwent targeted sequencing (TS) to confirm the relevant driver mutations. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assays. In the 42 samples, ARID1A (64.3%) and PIK3CA (28.5%) were frequently mutated, as were PPP2R1A (11.9%), PTEN (7.1%) and KRAS (4.8%), which have been reported in previous OCCC studies. We also detected mutations in MUC4 (28.6%), MAGEE1 (19%), and ARID3A (16.7%); associations with these genes have not been previously reported. The functional protein-activated pathways were associated with proliferation and survival (including the PI3K/AKT, TP53, and ERBB2 pathways) in 83% of OCCCs and with chromatin remodeling in 71% of OCCCs. Patients with alterations in MAGEE1 (64% in the targeted sequencing cohort) had worse clinical outcomes (log-rank p

On the basis of the present situation of oil and gas exploration and geological research of the west slope in the northern Songliao Basin, the factors controlling reservoir formation, oil and gas migration and accumulation, have been re-examined from the aspects of structure, deposition and reservoir formation. The results show that: (1) The west slope is a gentle slope which overlaps to the west, and nose structure is developed near the hydrocarbon generation depression, which is in the dominant direction area of hydrocarbon migration. A series of NE structural belts are developed on the slope and are favorable places for oil and gas accumulation. (2) The west slope can be further divided into the upper slope and the lower slope, and there are many kinds of oil and gas reservoirs, including structural, structural-lithologic and lithologic ones. In the upper slope, the major oil layer is Sartu controlled by structure; in the lower slope, multi-layers are oil-bearing, and the oil reservoirs are mostly composite ones. (3) Faults, unconformity surfaces and continuous sand bodies are the main channels of oil and gas migration; structure, sand body and fault jointly control the oil and gas enrichment in the slope; and the matching relationship between micro-amplitude and sand body, small fault and sand body control the oil and gas accumulation. On the basis of the above research, fine identification and effectiveness evaluation technology of composite trap has been developed through extensive study. Combination traps were identified by multiple technologies, including fault classification, micro-amplitude structure identification, fine sedimentation research, and lithologic trap identification by waveform indication inversion; and then the configuration relationship between fault and sand body, structural amplitude and sand body were analyzed to set up the evaluation criteria of effective traps. According to the criteria, the traps were selected to enhance the exploration success rate. Key words: reservoir type, accumulation features, exploration practice, slope accumulation, west slope, Songliao Basin

Steel slag’s physical and mechanical properties are close to natural gravel, which can replace natural aggregate with paving asphalt mixture pavement. Based on macro- and microscales, it is necessary to study the low-temperature cracking characteristics of steel slag asphalt mixture (SAM). This paper aims to study the low-temperature cracking characteristics and influence mechanism of steel slag asphalt mixture by macro- and microscale tests. This article analyzes the strain field distribution and cracks propagation law of SAM at low temperatures by the three-point bending test combined with digital image correlation (DIC). The microscopic pore characteristics of SAM were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Based on fracture mechanics and weight function theory, the variation law of the stress intensity factor at the crack tip of the asphalt mixture with crack propagation is derived. The correlation between microscopic pores and low-temperature cracking characteristics of asphalt mixture was analyzed based on the grey correlation theory. The results show that SAM has more small and less large pores, and its total porosity is lesser than that of the basalt asphalt mixture (BAM). The initial elastic stage of SAM resisting bending deformation is longer than that of BAM, the bending strain energy density (dW/dV) is larger, and the crack penetration is slower. The horizontal strain energy density (DE) of SAM is greater than BAM, and the crack tip stress is greater. The porosity correlates well with the low-temperature crack resistance of the asphalt mixture.

Highly active Ru nanoparticles (Ru NPs) supported on NiFe layered double hydroxide (Ru/NiFe-LDH) are prepared easily using ultrasound-assisted reduction method without chemical reductants and stabilizers. The plentiful hydroxyls on NiFe-LDH are excited into hydrogen radicals (·H) under the action of ultrasound for reducing Ru3+ to Ru0. Ru NPs with an average particle size of 1.26 nm highly disperse on the mesopore-like surface of NiFe-LDH, which improve the catalytic performance for N-ethylcarbazole (NEC) hydrogenation. The experimental results show that 5Ru/NiFe-LDH-300–60 exhibits the best catalytic performance with 100% conversion of NEC, 98.88% yield of dodecahydro-N-ethylcarbazole (12H-NEC) and 5.77 wt% mass hydrogen storage capacity under the reaction conditions of 110 ℃, 6 MPa and mRu:mNEC = 0.15 wt% for 80 min. The kinetics study shows that the apparent activation energy is only 25.15 kJ/mol, which is the lowest in the reported literatures. Ru complexes with O-contained groups on NiFe-LDH, improving the catalytic stability in NEC hydrogenation.

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in the People’s Republic of China. Targeted therapies for patients with lung cancer, which depend on accurate identification of actionable genomic alteration, have improved survival compared with previously available treatments. However, data on the types of molecular testing often used in the People’s Republic of China, and how they have changed over time, are scarce. We explored the overall landscape of molecular testing of lung cancer in mainland People’s Republic of China in the past decade. Methods: We distributed a stratified random sampling survey of molecular testing to 49 hospitals from members of the Molecular Pathology Collaboration Group of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association which was weighted by the numbers of lung cancer cases in seven different geographic regions in mainland People’s Republic of China from 2010 to 2019. The questionnaire contained four parts for all respondents. The questionnaire ascertained the use of approved in vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices published by the Center for Medical Device Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration of the People’s Republic of China. Results: A total of 226,227 NSCLC specimens were tested from 2010 to 2019 in the selected hospitals. The annual number of initiated molecular tests increased over time (p < 0.0001), with an average annual growth rate of 31.8%. A notable increase in the number of molecular tests occurred during 2014 and 2016, which coincided with the approval of the National Medical Products Administration to IVD devices. For the diagnosis of molecular subtypes, EGFR mutation testing was first conducted in year 2007, followed by ALK translocation testing in 2010 and ROS1 in 2011. For other rare genetic variations in NSCLC, BRAF mutation testing was first launched in 2012, MET exon 14 skipping mutation in 2014, HER2 exon 20 mutations in 2017, and RET translocation in 2015. A markedly uneven distribution was also observed in the geography of leading units with the largest number of leading units located in east People’s Republic of China (34.7%, 17 of 49) and the smallest number located in northwest People’s Republic of China (6.1%, 3 of 49). The growth trends we observed illustrate the progress and increasing capability of molecular testing of lung cancer achieved in mainland People’s Republic of China in the decade from 2010. Conclusions: In the decade 2010 to 2019, progress and increased capability of molecular testing of lung cancer were achieved in mainland People’s Republic of China. Further efforts should address the clinical application of next-generation sequencing technology, rare genomic aberrations, and the balance between novel genomic testing techniques and the approval of IVD products.

Two dimensional (2D) Pd nanosheets supported on reduced graphene oxide (Pd/rGO) were prepared through a sonochemical routine induced by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Coral-like porous Pd nanosheets (Pd/rGO-u) were obtained under the sonication condition (25 kHz, 600 W, ultrasonic transducer), while square Pd nanosheets (Pd/rGO-c) were produced via traditional chemical reduction. The size of Pd nanosheets of Pd/rGO-u and Pd/rGO-c are 69.7 nm and 59.7 nm, and the thickness are 4.6 nm and 4.4 nm, respectively. The carrier GO was proved to be partially reduced to rGO with good electrical conductivity and oxygen-containing groups facilitated a good dispersion of Pd nanosheets. The interaction between GO and CTAB made the alkyl chain assembles to a 2D lamella micelles which limit the growth of Pd atoms resulting in the formation of 2D nanosheets. A high ultrasonic power promotes the reduction and the formation of porous structure. Additionally, Pd/rGO-u exhibited a favorable electrocatalytic performance toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline condition, which provided a potential synthetic strategy assisted by sonication for high-performance 2D materials.

BackgroundPancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the most lethal cancers. In contrast to the steady increase in survival for most cancers, the 5-year survival remains low for PC patients.MethodsWe describe a new pipeline that can be used to identify prognostic molecular biomarkers by identifying miRNA-mediated subpathways associated with PC. These modules were then further extracted from a comprehensive miRNA-gene network (CMGN). An exhaustive survival analysis was performed to estimate the prognostic value of these modules.ResultsWe identified 105 miRNA-mediated subpathways associated with PC. Two subpathways within the MAPK signaling and cell cycle pathways were found to be highly related to PC. Of the miRNA-mRNA modules extracted from CMGN, six modules showed good prognostic performance in both independent validated datasets.ConclusionsOur study provides novel insight into the mechanisms of PC. We inferred that six miRNA-mRNA modules could serve as potential prognostic molecular biomarkers in PC based on the pipeline we proposed.

Microglia are critical in neuroinflammation. M1/M2 polarization transitions of microglial phenotypes determine the states of neuroinflammation and are regulated by multiple pathways, including miRNAs and other epigenetic regulations. This study investigated the polarization transitions of microglia induced by high glucose and glucose fluctuations, and the role of miR-146a in regulating M1/M2 polarization transitions of microglia. BV-2 cells were cultured with 25 mmol/L glucose, 75 mmol/L glucose, and 25 mmol/L−75 mmol/L glucose fluctuation for 48 h. BV-2 cells overexpressing miR-146a were generated using a lentiviral vector. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure mRNA expression of miR-146a, CD11b, iNOS, Arg-1, IRAK1, TRAF6, and NF-κB. Immunofluorescence was used to measure CD11b expression. Western blot was used to measure protein expression of CD11b, iNOS, and Arg-1. Compared with those in the 25 mmol/L glucose control group, expression of CD11b, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the 75 mmol/L glucose or glucose fluctuation groups of cultured BV-2 cells were significantly increased, while Arg-1 and IL-10 was significantly decreased. These effects were reversed by overexpression of miR-146a. Furthermore, expression of IRAK1, TRAF6, and NF-κB was significantly increased in the high glucose and glucose fluctuation groups; this was reduced after miR-146a overexpression. In sum, high glucose and glucose fluctuations induced polarization transitions from M1 to M2 phenotype in BV-2 cells. Overexpression of miR-146a might protect BV-2 cells from high glucose and glucose fluctuation associated with M1/M2 polarization transitions by downregulating the expression of IRAK1, TRAF6, and NF-κB.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage failure of the kidneys; however, its pathogenesis remains unknown. This study assessed the expression of complement components in the kidneys of rats with type 2 DN to investigate their role in DN.Methods: A rat model of type 2 DN was induced by a high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin. Blood glucose, fasting insulin levels, insulin resistance index, and 24-h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured. Renal tissue morphological features were observed. The mesangial index and arteriosclerosis index were calculated. Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to measure the expression of complement components in the kidneys.Results: The kidney weight: body weight (mg/g) ratio in the DN group was significantly greater than those in the control and diabetes mellitus (DM) groups. The arteriosclerosis index, mesangial index, and tube area percentage in the DN group were significantly higher than those in the control and DM groups, but these parameters did not significantly differ between the control and DM groups. The expression of the complement components C1q, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease (MASP)-2, B factor, C3, and C5b-9 in the DN group was significantly higher than that in the control and DM groups but did not significantly differ between the control and DM groups. Most of the complement components were mainly expressed at the renal tubular site. Correlation analysis showed that 24-h UAE were positively correlated with C1q, MBL, MASP-2, B factor, and C5b-9 expression. MI was positively correlated with MBL, B factor, C3, and C5b-9 expression. AI was positively correlated with C1q, MBL, MASP-2, and B factor expression.Conclusion: Complement components including C1q, MBL, MASP-2, B factor, C3, and C5b-9, were highly expressed in the kidneys of type 2 diabetic rats with DN. Most of the complement components were mainly expressed in the renal tubules. High expression of complement components was found to be associated with the progress of DN. Our study suggests that complement system activation is a progressive factor in type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Inhibition of pathological complement activation may be a promising therapeutic strategy for DN.

The transient evolution of inclusions during Al and Ti additions in a Fe-20 mass pct Cr alloy was investigated using polished cross sections and electrolytic extraction. After Al addition, the evolution of Al2O3-based inclusions based upon the area and particle size passed through the following three main stages with time: Particle agglomeration, inclusion floating, and a slow decrease of the remaining Al2O3-based inclusions. Titanium wire was fed into the steel at the end of the floating stage after Al addition when the Ostwald ripening process was finished. Immediately after Ti addition, the transient phase of Ti oxide was readily generated on the existing Al2O3-based inclusion and disappeared due to Al reduction as time progressed. The formation of the transient TiOx phase was affected by the low disregistry between Al2O3 and TiOx and the local Ti supersaturation, which cannot be predicted by the equilibrium relations of Ti−O−N or Ti−Al−O in the high-Cr-containing melt. Because of the local supersaturation of dissolved [%Ti] and [%N] shortly after Ti addition, TiN associated with existing inclusions and three types of individual TiN including single cubes, twinned inclusions, and clusters were identified. In order to minimize the Ti loss caused by the formation of Ti-rich zones during the transient stages, the removal of large Al2O3-based particles including aggregates, clusters, and flower-shaped inclusions should be promoted by stirring before Ti addition. After Ti addition, Brownian and turbulent were the major factors affecting the collision of particles smaller than the threshold of 2.7 μm. The agglomeration of inclusions larger than this threshold was mainly dominated by turbulent and Stokes’ collisions.

A 21-year-old female with a breast tumor for over a month came toour hospital. The physical examinations on her breast showed a mammaryneoplasm of about 4 cm, with a good range of motion and noabnormality seen in the skin. The patient remained single, and had nofamily history of breast cancer or ovarian carcinoma. CT and X-rayexaminations on the osseous tissue of the whole body showed that nolesions were found. A glabrous tumor with peplos was seen duringthe surgery, and was completely excised.

Mongolian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) is one of the principal tree species in the network of Three-North Shelterbelt for windbreak and sand stabilisation in China. The functions of shelterbelts are highly correlated with the architecture and eco-physiological processes of individual tree. Thus, model-assisted analysis of canopy architecture and function dynamic in Mongolian Scots pine is of value for better understanding its role and behaviour within shelterbelt ecosystems in these arid and semiarid regions. We present here a single-tree functional and structural model, derived from the GreenLab model, which is adapted for young Mongolian Scots pines by incorporation of plant biomass production, allocation, allometric rules and soil water dynamics. The model is calibrated and validated based on experimental measurements taken on Mongolian Scots pines in 2007 and 2006 under local meteorological conditions. Measurements include plant biomass, topology and geometry, as well as soil attributes and standard meteorological data. After calibration, the model allows reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) canopy architecture and biomass dynamics for trees from one- to six-year-old at the same site using meteorological data for the six years from 2001 to 2006. Sensitivity analysis indicates that rainfall variation has more influence on biomass increment than on architecture, and the internode and needle compartments and the aboveground biomass respond linearly to increases in precipitation. Sensitivity analysis also shows that the balance between internode and needle growth varies only slightly within the range of precipitations considered here. The model is expected to be used to investigate the growth of Mongolian Scots pines in other regions with different soils and climates.

Fanconi anemia complementation group-F (FANCF) is a key factor to maintain the function of FA/BRCA, a DNA-damage response pathway. However, the functional role of FANCF in breast cancer has not been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects and mechanisms of FANCF-RNAi on the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to mitoxantrone (MX). FANCF silencing by FANCF-shRNA blocked functions of FA/BRCA pathway through inhibition of FANCD2 mono-ubiquitination in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T-47D. In addition, FANCF shRNA inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and chromosome fragmentation in both breast cancer cells. We also found that FANCF silencing potentiated the sensitivity to MX in breast cancer cells, accompanying with an increase in intracellular MX accumulation and a decrease in BCRP expression. Furthermore, we found that the blockade of FA/BRCA pathway by FANCF-RNAi activated p38 and JNK MAPK signal pathways in response to MX treatment. BCRP expression was restored by p38 inhibitor SB203580, but not by JNK inhibitor SP600125. FANCF silencing increased JNK and p38 mediated activation of p53 in MX-treated breast cancer cells, activated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Our findings indicate that FANCF shRNA potentiates the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to MX, suggesting that FANCF may be a potential target for therapeutic strategies for the treatment of breast tumors.

Altered DNA methylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters plays a role in human carcinogenesis and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are responsible for it. This study aimed to determine aberrant expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b in benign and malignant ovarian tumor tissues for their association with clinicopathological significance and prognostic value. A total of 142 ovarian cancers and 44 benign ovarian tumors were recruited for immunohistochemical analysis of their expression. The data showed that expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b was observed in 76 (53.5%), 92 (64.8%) and 79 (55.6%) of 142 cases of ovarian cancer tissues, respectively. Of the serious tumors, DNMT3a protein expression was significantly higher than that in benign tumor samples (P = 0.001); DNMT3b was marginally significant down regulated in ovarian cancers compared to that of the benign tumors (P = 0.054); DNMT1 expression has no statistical difference between ovarian cancers and benign tumor tissues (P = 0.837). Of the mucious tumors, the expression of DNMT3a, DNMT3b, and DNMT1 was not different between malignant and benign tumors. Moreover, DNMT1 expression was associated with DNMT3b expression (P = 0.020, r = 0.195). DNMT1 expression was associated with age of the patients, menopause status, and tumor localization, while DNMT3a expression was associated with histological types and serum CA125 levels and DNMT3b expression was associated with lymph node metastasis. In addition, patients with DNMT1 or DNMT3b expression had a trend of better survival than those with negative expression. Co-expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3b was significantly associated with better overall survival (P = 0.014). The data from this study provided the first evidence for differential expression of DNMTs proteins in ovarian cancer tissues and their associations with clinicopathological and survival data in sporadic ovarian cancer patients.